This Is Why You Get Goosebumps When Listening To Music

Do you ever get goosebumps when listening to music?

Sometimes known as ‘skin orgasms’ (yes, really), the scientific name for this sensation is ‘frisson’ – and a new study has just revealed that those who experience it while kicking back to their favourite tunes are actually more in touch with their emotions.

US student Matthew Sachs, who made the discovery as part of his undergraduate studies at Harvard, discovered that not everybody has experienced this type of music-induced sensation and that those who do have a brain that works differently from others.

He ran a test involving 20 students with half of the participants claiming they got goosebumps when listening to certain songs. He took brain scans of each participant and analysed the results.

Writing in the Oxford Academic, Sachs said: ‘The idea being that more fibers and increased efficiency between two regions means that you have more efficient processing between them.’

Sachs plans to continue his research on frisson and how it affects the human mind. He thinks that his findings might be used to treat mental illnesses, including depression. ‘Depression causes an inability to experience pleasure of everyday things,’ he said. ‘You could use music with a therapist to explore feelings.’

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.